COVID-19 Business Resource Center

May 21, 2021

Cover of The Reimagined Funeral and Cemetery Professional Post Pandemic document

Published by

Chris Cruger on May 21, 2021

The Reimagined Funeral and Cemetery Professional—Post Pandemic

As we were all learning to work the ‘new normal’ into our lexicon The Foresight Companies conducted a study focused on consumer attitudes toward the funeral and cemetery profession in the post-pandemic era. The findings around the role of our profession were simply astonishing. The pandemic has altered not only how funeral homes and cemeteries serve their families today, but it also has produced a reimagined role for funeral and cemetery professionals both in perception and reality. The result is an elevated view as “last responders” in the eyes of the consumer. When a death occurs, most families arrive at funeral and cemetery facilities with unsure expectations. Emotions are high and the need for quick decisions can cause even more stress. Is it that much of a surprise that consumers feel a disconnection between the opinion of our profession and […]

May 12, 2021

Graphic for The Foresight Companies Webinar event

Published by

Nicole Vullo on May 12, 2021

Re-Examining the Role of the Funeral and Cemetery Professional is Now Available to Watch On-Demand

In what was undeniably the most transformative time in generations, The Foresight Companies conducted a study of consumers to put empirical data behind the speculative trends about how COVID-19 will impact the funeral and cemetery profession, both in the short-term and the long-term. None of us could have imagined that almost one year after debuting this groundbreaking study, we would still be faced with the challenges of the pandemic. In 2021, the consumers were still talking, and we were listening! Our follow-up 2021 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study not only builds upon many of the key insights that we shared in 2020, but it also delivers new and fascinating findings into the mind of the consumer as we start to move beyond the pandemic. It will also address the opportunities that lie ahead in funeral service including reinstituting consultative […]

May 10, 2021

The Foresight Companies Blog Press Release

Published by

Nicole Vullo on May 10, 2021

Pandemic Has Changed the Way Americans Mourn

New experiences, technologies, and changing expectations have even the oldest Americans embracing non-traditional ways of mourning Phoenix, Arizona – May 10, 2021 – As a result of the global pandemic, consumers have experienced new ways of mourning the loss of their friends and family, and that has permanently changed the way they mourn, this according to The Foresight Companies 2021 Funeral and Cemetery Consumer Behavior Study. Nearly 1/3 (32%) of survey respondents say their attitudes have changed as a result of new experiences, including using new technologies and adopting non-traditional approaches to celebration. The global pandemic has necessitated adoption of new technologies and behaviors to the highly traditional funeral and cemetery business, and the FCCBS survey, now in its second year, continues to show that consumers are re-examining even the most fundamental ways consumers mourn. This includes even those groups […]

April 22, 2021

Image of new blog post text on blue oceanic background

Published by

John McQueen on April 22, 2021

Phone Skills: Building Effective Relationships

Technology has taken the world by storm, especially in the areas of communication. Today, we have a multitude of ways in which to connect with our customers, from email to text to instant message to FaceTime and more. Yet, the number one form of customer contact is still the telephone. Although 82% of our communication is done telephonically, it is also the single largest means of communication that lacks staff training. Professional telephone etiquette can impact a positive first impression, influencing a customer’s behavior and actions toward a business. As my father always said, “you never get a second chance to make a great first impression!” If the first interaction most customers have with your firm is over the phone, should you dedicate ample time to train your team to make that impression the best one possible. According to the […]

April 13, 2021

Published by

Catherine Belliveau on April 13, 2021

The EIDL Program: Eligibility for an Increase

If you received a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA you may be eligible to receive additional loan funds. Loans approved prior to April 7, 2021 for less than $500,000 are likely eligible for an increase based on new loan maximum amounts announced March 24, 2021. Businesses that received a loan subject to the previous loan limit can submit a request for an increase at this time. The SBA is reaching out directly to loan borrowers via email. You should expect to receive emails from @sba.gov or @updates.sba.gov with details on how to request a loan increase. If you have not received an email, follow these instructions to request a loan increase: Send email to CovidEIDLIncreaseRequests@sba.gov Use subject line “EIDL Increase Request for [insert your 10-digit application number]” Be sure to include in the body […]